Too Daring For Older Women To Follow College Fashion Trends?
A month ago, we were in downtown Phoenix and I noticed that all of the young girls were basically wearing the same thing. Wide jeans, cropped shirts, and sneakers or combat boots. When I discussed this in my email, my friend, Kathrine, said they see the same thing when they visit their son at college.
This made me think about whether it would be too daring for older women to follow college fashion trends.
Quote of the day: “If you care too much about being praised, in the end, you will not accomplish anything serious.” Leo Tolstoy
If you’ve been following me for a while, then you know that I bristle at being told what I can and can’t wear. Age, size, and budget shouldn’t be a deterrent to wearing what we want.
Do I want to copy the college fashion trends exactly? No, but I am a firm believer that moving with the evolving style scene keeps us from looking frumpy.
And to prove that theory, I grabbed my friend Cathie as well as twisted Kathrine’s arm to prove that older women can wear college fashion trends.
Your first response might be “No way” but I hope I give you some food for thought.
This isn’t the first time I have written about wide-leg pants
- Outfits with wide-leg pants for curvy shapes
- Wide-Leg cropped pants for petites
- How to wear wide-leg pants
I saw two older women wearing this college fashion trend recently on Instagram if you need more relatable inspiration:
1 Joy, who calls herself mid-sized.
2-Marsha lives in rural Missouri and is over 60.
What are the College Fashion Trends?
I asked Cathie’s daughter who is in college and very fashion-forward for her thoughts on what are college fashion trends.
Emma said that a stylish look would include the following:
- Wide-leg pants or cargo pants
- Crop tops or graphic tees
- Platform Converse or Doc Martens
- Basically anything at Urban Outfitters
Notice that the entire silhouette is different than what we have been wearing for the past 10 years. The pants have volume and the tops are tighter. Instead of wearing the volume on the top as we did with tunics and having tighter pants like skinny jeans or leggings.
Don’t automatically count this out. You’re used to the opposite, but you can still look amazing with this idea. I believe we should switch things up.
Insider tip: The goal shouldn’t be looking slimmer and taller. It’s all about loving yourself and having fun with your style. In all reality, tunics did not make you look slimmer either.
Old Navy has a fabulous selection of wide jeans from size 00 to 30 with regular, short, and long inseams in some styles. The best part is most times the jeans are under $50. My suggestion is to read the reviews and remember to order many different styles and sizes. Try them on at home so you can see how they look with your closet, and then return what you don’t want. Especially if you are petite, tall, or plus size, you have a better chance of getting your correct size online. Stores just can’t carry that much merchandise.
Insider tip: If you have an apple-shaped body, remember that maternity jeans are your bestie.
Now admit it. How many of you read “crop tops” and said, “No way, no how”? I’ve heard that scuttlebutt from my mom and Lesley already about how women over 50 shouldn’t be showing off their midriff. And I get it. But just because a top is called a crop top does not always mean it’s going to show off your midriff.
It’s not much different than how many ankle pants are the right length for those of us who are vertically challenged.
Banana Republic Factory has a wide selection of tops that still cover your midriff yet don’t hang too long.
Insider tip: So before you automatically assume a “crop top” isn’t for you. Take the time to evaluate it and check its measurements. You might be surprised how nice it is to have a top that doesn’t hang below your crotch.
The advantage of shorter tops and sweaters is you don’t have to even worry about the half tuck with the outfit.
Kathrine
As I said, I twisted my friend, Kathrine’s arm to join us with this idea of if older women could follow college trend fashions and still feel comfortable.
Definitely pop over to her site to see the entire look, but suffice it to say that it’s a perfect example that age is not a factor in looking good.
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Jodie Wearing a Cropped Jacket and Sandals
This isn’t my only pair of wide jeans but it is my newest pair. I found these at Old Navy in the young teens section. Did you know that Old Navy goes up to size 18 for young girls which can fit women who wear smaller sizes in adults? I tried on all kinds of jeans the day we were shopping, and the reason I chose this pair is that I didn’t need to shorten them. At first, they had a small gap at the back of the waist until…
Until in the car when I was looking at them in more detail and realized that the jeans had a built-in elastic around the inside of the waist which could be adjusted.
IT WAS MINDBLOWING. In fact, I talked about it in my Instagram stories where many women reached out and said their son’s jeans had this detail when they were young. And my thought was why didn’t adult jeans have this?
You can see it in more detail in my FB video right after I bought them.
I did find this crop top while thrifting recently, and knowing that I have a couple of pairs of high-waisted pants, I thought it would be a good combination.
For the chill in the air, I also grabbed my cropped jacket which I’ve showcased 5 different outfits and how to style it.
Details
While college fashion trends may show different footwear, I always think you want to put your own spin on any kind of trend. That’s why I opted for a pair of sandals and whimsical accessories. I can have a bit of the college fashion trend vibe yet make it my own unique look.
Whimsical was not part of my description of anything while I was working. It was all serious and age-appropriate (whatever that means), but now that I’m retired, I just adore having more fun with my style.
That’s where the cactus earrings and purse come in. Plus these heart sunnies.
Closing Sale: The boutique Naomi & Ruth is closing its doors and that means everything at full price is 50% off. Make sure to take advantage of the great deals as well as help her out by getting rid of her inventory. My jacket and hat are both from this boutique from last season.
Another accessory I see the younger generation wearing more than us older women is bucket hats. You may think that bucket hats are shaped weirdly, but these are my go-to, especially for water aerobics. They have sun coverage but they aren’t too big. Plus most of them are fabric material and some even have cords to keep them in place.
Amazon has a great selection if you are interested, but I found a couple more below.
Facts: Jodie’s Touch of Style is supported by my readers. I partner with affiliate platforms where commission may be earned based on your purchases. If you decide to buy anything I’ve promoted, I appreciate you using my link. These links help bloggers like me to fund the content that we provide, plus it tells companies that blogging marketing works. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Cathie: Neutral College Fashion Trends
Cathie has a college-age daughter who gives her input about her outfits and tells her what is in and out of style! Not that Cathie always dresses in these clothes, but she has the inside scoop.
Notice that Cathie’s jeans have a raw hem. This is very advantageous if you have trouble finding pants short enough for you. Just cut them off to the desired length and voila!
This black crop top also is longer in the back, so it doesn’t seem quite as cropped. That’s another detail that you might prefer. If so this one at Old Navy is a great deal.
Details
Cathie is wearing the dainty necklaces that all of the college kids are wearing. She even has on a ton of rings and the crescent purse style.
As for her footwear, she opted for black and white sneakers that give her ankle support because she recently had ankle surgery.
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